CO|LAB - the concept

5 weeks out, we thought we’d share with you a little about the CO|LAB concept and exhibition design selection process.

Over our 3 or more years at Design Centre Enmore the professional interior designers, architects, decorators and draftspeople who teach us have emphasised the importance of a strong concept in realising quality design.

At the beginning of this year, all graduating Interior Design and Decoration students came together to explore the idea of ‘stretch’ and how it applied to design in general, our own design work and our future in the industry. Split up into 16 teams, we then had the task of teasing out a concept from this starting point for the design of our graduate exhibition.

In one night of presentations and voting, all kinds of concepts were presented - from thinking about the materiality of skin to pushing beyond the everyday. Students and teachers voted to select one design, with the CO|LAB concept coming up the winner. The winning team behind CO|LAB is: Sanova Amiri, Connie Condylios, Alan Foster, Tuyen Le, Elizabeth Phan and Kelly Silm.

Their unique and challenging concept is that the exhibition will be…

“an anatomic manifestation of form and function. It is an opportunity to explore our selves as single cells that collaborate for a common purpose. CO|LAB as an event will invite guests to enter and experience students’ work as individuals and as a collective.”

Based around the idea of collaboration being integral to all design processes, students’ work will be displayed on custom-designed mega-light boxes – as a collective - or intimate stands - as individual cells linked together. Multi-media and light will play important roles in the creation of the exhibition spaces and experience.

Next week we’ll post more about the process of developing the exhibition design – stay tuned!

CO|LAB - concept sketches

Sponsor profiles

To acknowledge the generosity of our many sponsors, we will be featuring company profiles over the coming weeks. These will tell you more about some of the fantastic design companies who have provided in-kind or monetary support for our graduate exhibition process.

First up... Interstudio

Interstudio focuses on fresh contemporary design and promotes emerging Scandinavian and local Australian designers.

"Interstudio is modelled on Interstudio Copenhagen, with whom we have a close association. The company is a revelation in Scandinavia with its focus on uncompromising contemporary design. Interstudio has a designer furniture gallery in Sydney & Melbourne in addition to Copenhagen, Stockholm and Oslo. The two Australian showrooms introduce the Danish design companies Voss Co, Globe Zero 4, Busk & Hertzog, Montana, Paustian, Engelbrechts, Magnus Olesen, Pelikan Design, Pearson Lloyd and Fredericia, as well as International brands Six Inch & Blu Dot. We also stock and promote furniture by Australian producers such as Basile & Evans, Origin Didier, Luxxboxx and Keith Melbourne.

Interstudio fosters design innovation with scholarships and promotional programs to support and encourage emerging designers.

Interstudio is able to produce customised solutions for your interiors. We presently have combined international industry expertise of nearly 50 years, and invite you to challenge us with the procurement of the perfect product to complement your schemes.

We can liase with you and a number of reputable financiers to give you financial options such as hire purchase, leasing and rental. We are also extremely flexible with regard to hiring for display suites and photo shoots."

Huge thanks to Interstudio for supporting emerging designers - see you at the exhibition!

CO|LAB - The countdown begins

With 6 weeks to go until the CO|LAB Interior Design + Decoration Graduate Exhibition 2011, here's a teaser to kick start the countdown:

Get excited!

CO|LAB x Aspect Designs

Aspect Designs, one of our very treasured platinum sponsors, is a multi-disciplinary practice that has been in the forefront of the design industry for over 30 years. Their exceptionally high standard of work has continually been a benchmark for others. Their scope includes:

• Prestige residential


• Retail


• Hospitality


• Commercial


• Public buildings


• Infrastructure


• Master planning


• Graphic design


• Brand development

Some examples of Aspects amazing work:

We had a chat with Michael Sasso, architect and founder of Aspect Designs:

What is your design philosophy?

Aspect’s philosophy is to combine our detailed and innovative concepts and continual personal interaction with each individual client to create a superior product reflecting the client’s self expression and physical requirements.

The key to our success has been the basic principles of our designs, which concentrate on a good flow of space, abundant light, an inside- outside relationship and the correct orientation and design features to allow for passive solar benefits. The projects are visually exciting and express the latest in style and materials and finishes available in the market and are managed with a personal commitment to quality.

Who are your major influences in the world of design?

I have been influenced hugely by architects such as Frank Lloyd Wright, Richard Neutra and in the modern era no other than Glen Murcut who I had a lot to do with during my work experience year at university.

What area of design did you first work in upon graduating?

My initial area of design was in the commercial field. I was contracted to design service stations for TOTAL. The most interesting project for then was the design of the first solar powered centre.

What did you find most valuable in your time at UNSW?

To be honest…not a lot of value except for one particular tutor who mentored me for a couple of years. His understanding and love of residential architecture has had a huge influence on my philosophies in design.

What career advice would you give a graduating interior designer or decorator?

Make sure you get practical hands-on experience so you know what and how to design with what materials.

What has been your favourite collaboration to date?

My favourites are always those projects without clients. Sounds strange because our design philosophy is centred around the client but the ones without clients allow for a greater freedom of expression and experimentation.

What are some day to day issues or struggles an interior designer has to deal with?

The client’s understanding of how far a budget goes. Champagne tastes and beer budgets are very common. Another issue is trying to convince a client that a design principle is important…to them it’s all very pragmatic.

What was your favourite project and why?

My favourite design project was unfortunately never built. It was the conversion of a wheat silo into a residence on a farm owned by our Prime Minister Harold Holt who disappeared while swimming off the South Coast. Why? Working with curved spaces and making them feel comfortable was incredibly difficult. The senses look for sharp lines and boundaries as a reference. What happens to the brain when there aren’t any is amazingly uncomfortable?

What is your favourite object?

A golf club or a bottle of wine !!!

A big thanks to Michael for giving us some though-provoking insights!

You can see more of Aspect's work here, or you can contact them via phone:

• General enquiries: sales@aspectdesigns.com.au


• Architectural enquiries: michael@aspectdesigns.com.au


• Interior enquiries: cassandra@aspectdesigns.com.au

Saturday In Design + DCE Open Day

If you recall from this post, a certain someone was slightly excited for Saturday In Design. Held in Sydney this year, there were so many places to see in so little time! What were the stand outs for you?

One of stand outs for us were the finalists for the Cafe Culture Upcycling competition. Some favourites:

Pen de Light by Stephanie Qiu and Teddy Loho. Yes, those are indeed Bic pens!

Diesel Light by Peter Watson

Design Centre Enmore was incredibly lucky to have a small stand in Cafe Culture to sell raffle tickets to raise funds for the CO|LAB Interior Design + Decoration Graduate Exhibition. We raised a very tidy $550, and believe me, the prizes are A-MAZ-ING. How does a cocktail party at Hugo's sound? Or a rug worth $600? Anyone for $500 worth of wine and champagne? Last chance to purchase tickets are at the Design Centre Enmore Open Day this Saturday. If you're interested in pursuing a career in Interior Design or Interior Decoration, come along - we'd love to meet you!

DCE Presents Final Year Students - Anna Sulsters

Who are your major influences in the world of design?

I try to look at and experience as much as I can - from photography and furniture to landscape architecture, to traveling. Architects Peter Zumthor , Terunobu Fujimori , Tham & Videgard and American artist Robert Irwin are the people that I keep coming back to.

What is your design philosophy?

Im not sure I can sum it up just as yet- I think that will come with more time and experience. Sustainability and responsibility are basic design principles, and as part of that, my own work more and more, seems to include the construction of the design as part of the conceptual approach itself. I think this approach has the ability to give a material a whole new purpose beyond its natural characteristics. I think a designers skill at construction should guide the essence of the design.

What area of design would you like to work in upon graduating from DCE?

Im interested in most areas, in particular residential, community based, or adaptive re-use/ restoration work. I would like to be part of a design collective who have an interest in developing other areas of design such as furniture, lighting and conceptual works as part of the process. It’s difficult to say at this stage there are so many avenues, but I’m open to all options so we will see….